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Usually the genetics of human longevity is restricted to the nuclear genome (nDNA). However it is well known that the nDNA interacts with a physically and functionally separated genome, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that, even if limited in length and number of genes encoded, plays a major role in the ageing process. The complex interplay between nDNA/mtDNA and the environment is most likely involved in phenomena such as ageing and longevity. To this scenario we have to add another level of complexity represented by the microbiota, that is, the whole set of bacteria present in the different part of our body with their whole set of genes. In particular, several studies investigated the role of gut microbiota (GM) modifications in ageing and longevity and an age-related GM signature was found. In this view, human being must be considered as “metaorganism” and a more holistic approach is necessary to grasp the complex dynamics of the interaction between the environment and nDNA-mtDNA-GM of the host during ageing. In this review, the relationship between the three genetics and human longevity is addressed to point out that a comprehensive view will allow the researchers to properly address the complex interactions that occur during human lifespan.

The human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogeny is an almost perfect molecular prototype for a non-recombining locus and knowledge on its variation has been extensively used in molecular anthropology and population genetics studies. Furthermore, its mode of inheritance, high mutation rate and high cellular copy number make this locus a primary choice also in the field of ancient DNA analysis, as well as in different contest such as biomedical research and diagnostic of mitochondrial disorders or human identification for forensic purposes. In the very last years, the study of mtDNA control region sequence and coding region single nucleotide polymorphisms have been gradually substituted by the investigation of variation at the whole mitochondrial genome, allowing analyses at a much higher resolution level and a deeper discrimination between haplogroups. In fact, high-throughput sequencing of whole mitochondrial genomes is now possible with lower costs with respect to those related to the traditional Sanger method thanks to Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies. Among them, the Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM, Life Technologies) is a new platform that uses an innovative method of sequencing. In fact, it does not use fluorescence or chemiluminescence, but measures the proton (H+) ions released during base incorporation. This new sequencing method allows to reduce times and costs of sequencing. The workflow, like other NGS, consists of four major steps: library construction, template preparation, sequencing and analysis. We develop a workflow for processing multiple samples in parallel through the preparation of barcoded libraries obtained by physical fragmentation of two long range PCR products with Bioruptor sonication system (Diagenode) at 200 base pairs reads. After equalization of single barcoded libraries in a pool the samples are subjected to an emulsion PCR reaction step. In this step, the library are attached to beads and amplified. During a step of enrichment only the beads that bind amplified template fragments are retrieved and these will be the template for the sequencing reaction. The sequencing technology is what really differentiates Ion Torrent platform; since optics are not required, the sequencing reaction is relatively fast and inexpensive. The obtained sequences are processed and aligned to the reference genome by means of the Ion Torrent suite and a dedicated bioinformatics tool was used to call single nucleotide and small insertion/deletion variants. We compared our results with those obtained by processing raw data via an ad hoc developed pipeline, as well as with those resulting from Sanger sequencing of the same samples to assess the reliability of the adopted protocol and sequencing technology.

Blood circulating microRNAs (c‐miRs) are potential biomarkers to trace aging and longevity trajectories to identify molecular targets for anti‐aging therapies. Based on a cross‐sectional study, a discovery phase was performed on 12 donors divided into four groups: young, old, healthy, and unhealthy centenarians. The identification of healthy and unhealthy phenotype was based on cognitive performance and capabilities to perform daily activities. Small RNA sequencing identified 79 differentially expressed c‐miRs when comparing young, old, healthy centenarians, and unhealthy centenarians. Two miRs, that is, miR‐19a‐3p and miR‐19b‐3p, were found increased at old age but decreased at extreme age, as confirmed by RT‐qPCR in 49 donors of validation phase. The significant decrease of those miR levels in healthy compared to unhealthy centenarians appears to be due to the presence of isomiRs, not detectable with RT‐qPCR, but only with a high‐resolution technique such as deep sequencing. Bioinformatically, three main common targets of miR‐19a/b‐3p were identified, that is, SMAD4, PTEN, and BCL2L11, converging into the FoxO signaling pathway, known to have a significant role in aging mechanisms. For the first time, this study shows the age‐related increase of plasma miR‐19a/b‐3p in old subjects but a decrease in centenarians. This decrease is more pronounced in healthy centenarians and was confirmed by the modified pattern of isomiRs comparing healthy and unhealthy centenarians. Thus, our study paves the way for functional studies using c‐miRs and isomiRs as additional parameter to track the onset of aging and age‐related diseases using new potential biomarkers., Small RNA deep sequencing on plasma‐derived RNA from 12 donors (young and old subjects, healthy, and unhealthy centenarians) was performed: 79 differentially expressed c‐miRs were identified. MiR‐19a/b‐3p increased at old age but decreased at extreme age, as confirmed by RT‐qPCR in 49 subjects. The decrease was more relevant in healthy centenarians, also confirmed by the modified pattern of isomiRs. Three common targets of miR‐19a/b‐3p were identified converging into the FoxO signaling pathway.

none 10 no Published online: 08 Nov 2016 Investigation of human mitochondrial DNA variation patterns and phylogeny has been extensively used in Anthropological and Population Genetics studies and sequencing the whole mitochondrial genome is progressively becoming the gold standard. Among the currently available massive parallel sequencing technologies, Ion Torrent™ semiconductor sequencing represents a promising approach for such studies. Nevertheless, an experimental protocol conceived to enable the achievement of both as high as possible yield and of the most homogeneous sequence coverage through the whole mitochondrial genome is still not available. The present work was thus aimed at improving the overall performance of whole mitochondrial genomes Ion Torrent™ sequencing, with special focus on the capability to obtain robust coverage and highly reliable variants calling. For this purpose, a series of cost-effective modifications in standard laboratory workflows was fine-tuned to optimize them for medium- and large-scale population studies. A total of 54 human samples were thus subjected to sequencing of the whole mitochondrial genome with the Ion Personal Genome Machine™ System in four distinct experiments and using Ion 314 chips. Seven of the selected samples were also characterized by means of conventional Sanger sequencing for the sake of comparison. Obtained results demonstrated that the implemented optimizations had definitely improved sequencing outputs in terms of both variants calling efficiency and coverage uniformity, enabling to setup an effective and accurate protocol for whole mitochondrial genome sequencing and a considerable reduction in experimental time consumption and sequencing costs. none De Fanti, Sara; Vianello, Dario; Giuliani, Cristina; Quagliariello, Andrea; Cherubini, Anna; Sevini, Federica; Iaquilano, Nicoletta; Franceschi, Claudio; Sazzini, Marco; Luiselli, Donata De Fanti, Sara; Vianello, Dario; Giuliani, Cristina; Quagliariello, Andrea; Cherubini, Anna; Sevini, Federica; Iaquilano, Nicoletta; Franceschi, Claudio; Sazzini, Marco; Luiselli, Donata

Within the MARK-AGE project, a population study (3337 subjects) was conducted to identify a set of biomarkers of ageing which, as a combination of parameters with appropriate weighting, would measure biological age better than any single marker. The MARK-AGE project involves 14 European countries and a total of 26 research centres. In such a study, standard operating procedures (SOPs) are an essential task, which are binding for all MARK-AGE Beneficiaries. The SOPs cover all aspects of subject's recruitment, collection, shipment and distribution of biological samples (blood and its components, buccal mucosa cells or BMC and urine) as well as the anthropometric measurements and questionnaires. published

Genetic signatures from the Paleolithic inhabitants of Eurasia can be traced from the early divergent mitochondrial DNA lineages still present in contemporary human populations. Previous studies already suggested a pre-Neolithic diffusion of mitochondrial haplogroup HV*(xH, V) lineages, a relatively rare class of mtDNA types that includes parallel branches mainly distributed across Europe and West Asia with a certain degree of structure. Up till now, variation within haplogroup HV was addressed mainly by analyzing sequence data from the mtDNA control region, except for specific sub-branches, such as HV4 or the widely distributed haplogroups H and V. In this study, we present a revised HV topology based on full mtDNA genome data, and we include a comprehensive dataset consisting of 316 complete mtDNA sequences including 60 new samples from the Italian peninsula, a previously underrepresented geographic area. We highlight points of instability in the particular topology of this haplogroup, reconstructed with BEAST-generated trees and networks. We also confirm a major lineage expansion that probably followed the Late Glacial Maximum and preceded Neolithic population movements. We finally observe that Italy harbors a reservoir of mtDNA diversity, with deep-rooting HV lineages often related to sequences present in the Caucasus and the Middle East. The resulting hypothesis of a glacial refugium in Southern Italy has implications for the understanding of late Paleolithic population movements and is discussed within the archaeological cultural shifts occurred over the entire continent.